An initiative of Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) has set an example by restoring biodiversity and environmental protection at its Piparwar Open Cast Mines (POCM). This initiative of biodiversity started on five hectares of barren land, which have been extended to 30 hectares at present.
There are very few examples like the Piparwar project in Coal mine areas in terms of greenery available here. Such greenery and coal mines are never around but the 'Kayakalp Vatika' built by CCL on barren land is an example in itself. The result of the biodiversity conservation initiative is the 'Kayakalp Vatika', which was conceptualised by the team of management and environmentalists of Piparwar Mines.
CCL Piparwar Project Environment Officer, Sajay Kumar informed that Piparwar Open Cast Mines is about 55 km from the State Capital. “This coal mine, spread over 540 hectares, was known for the highest production of coal till a few years ago. From the 1990s, coal mining started through open cast mining and then the situation of the environment and biodiversity was worrisome,” he added.
“In 2015, Piparwar Open Cast Mines project officials thought of something different for the vacant area of the mines. After continuous Coal mining, it was a distant dream to convert the area into a green area because it was very difficult to fill vacant areas of the mines. Due to the completion of coal mining, this area could not even be used for production. At the same time, black dust was seen around the entire area, a pile of coal waste and big pits surrounded the area but the hard work of the officials during last few years has changed the black face of the closed quarry area of Piparwar to a green field, which is becoming the center of attraction for the local people,” Kumar.
Now in addition to the ecological park at Pipperwar, 11 such parks are being developed in areas of CCL with the primary aim of promoting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance through modern techniques. Altogether, 12 ecological parks being established by the company will cover an area of around 317 hectares. The plants included fruit-bearing and medicinal plants.
The company will further carry plantation through seed ball technique in its operational areas. Seed ball is a natural technique in which it wraps the seeds in a mixture of clay and compost, and later they are sprayed on selected areas during monsoons for plantations. It is a sustainable approach to promote plantation on rough contours.
Kumar said that they will construct the Ecological parks in a time-bound manner. It will also create a source of employment and empowerment for people of Jharkhand, he added.